Arkansas has moved into the final stretch for one of the top guards in the 2027 class, with 5-star SPIRE Academy combo guard King Gibson set to announce his college choice Sunday.
Gibson will reveal his decision live on ESPN2 at halftime of the Southeastern Prep (Fla.) vs. AZ Compass Prep game on Sunday, Oct.
- The race has been narrowed to four schools: Arkansas, LSU, Providence and Louisville.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard is rated No. 15 overall in the country, No. 3 at his position and the No. 1 player in Ohio by 247Sports. He also carries a long list of offers - 37 programs in all - with schools like Baylor, Florida State, Alabama, Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky and Mississippi State among those that entered the mix.
What makes Gibson such a coveted target is the versatility. He can work on or off the ball, and he doesn’t need to live off the jumper to fill it up. He’s a physical three-level scorer who can get downhill, finish with a smooth runner, knock down midrange looks off the dribble and punish defenses from three if they lose track of him in the halfcourt.
His catch-and-shoot game is another weapon. The release is quick enough to beat most recovery efforts, and while he’s controlled in transition, he can get a little too sped up at times and nearly lose the handle.
Gibson also brings solid playmaking for a combo guard. His vision stands out, especially when he’s reading the floor and looking off defenders to create easy assists. He may not have the explosive leaping ability of some other 2027 names, but he still has enough bounce in space and rebounds well on both ends.
Last season, Gibson led SPIRE Academy in scoring, putting up 15 points, four assists and three rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field, 46% from beyond the arc and 80% at the line.
Arkansas’ pursuit comes as the Razorbacks continue to work on a loaded 2027 board. Point guard Beckham Black, the No. 1 overall prospect, and small forward Demarcus Henry, ranked No. 3 nationally, are also among the headliners in play.
The timing fits a program that already has recruiting momentum under John Calipari. Arkansas signed the consensus No. 1 overall class in 2026, and landing Gibson would be another major addition to that run.
That pitch has also been reinforced by former Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, a former 5-star and consensus All-American, who had strong praise for Calipari’s track record with elite backcourt players.
"I don't know how he does it. It seems like every year he's got somebody new," Acuff said earlier this week.
"Even this year, he's got somebody. Next year, he might get somebody.
"It's crazy just to see how well he coaches the best point guards. I'm truly blessed to be one of them.
That's the greatest coach, the greatest recruiter, the greatest everything. He's a great person more than he is a great coach.
That's what separates him from everybody else."
In Other News...
Calipari Missing On One Target Could Reveal Arkansas Bigger 2027 Plan
King Gibsons commitment to LSU trimmed one more name from Arkansas early wish list in the class of 2027, but it also underscored how active John Calipari and his staff already are on the recruiting trail. Gibson, a highly regarded combo guard, had been a target for the Razorbacks along with several other programs, and his decision leaves Arkansas to keep pressing forward as the long-range board continues to take shape.
The bigger picture for the Razorbacks is less about one miss than about where Calipari is directing his energy next, with Beckham Black and Demarcus Henry among the names still in play. Henry is expected to choose in early November, and Arkansas pursuit of multiple top targets suggests the staff is trying to build momentum well beyond one recruit, even as the race for 2027 keeps shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Has A New Problem Behind This Painful SEC Skid
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Arkansas Now Knows When Its Next Chance To Change The Season Comes
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It will be the first meeting between the programs in eight seasons and only the 11th time they have lined up overall, which gives the matchup a little extra weight as the calendar moves deeper into October. For Arkansas, it is the kind of road game that can shape what the rest of the season looks like, and now the team knows exactly when that chance arrives. [Read more 🡒]